Edger and trimmer attachment for mowers



Dec. 23, 1952 s. VELOTTA 2,622,334

EDGER AND TRIMMER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWERS Filed July e, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 swat, LEE? s. VELOTTA EDGER AND TRIMMER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWERS Dec. 23, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1948 Dec. 23, 1952 s. VELOTTA 2,622,384

' EDGER AND TRIMMER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWERS Filed July e, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet :5

Fig. 5

Fig. 4

S. VELOTTA EDGER AND TRIMMER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWERS Dec. 23, 1952 Filed July 6, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 23, 1952 s VELQTTA 2,622,384

EDGER AND TRIMMER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWERS Filed July 6, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 8

Dec. 23, 1952 s. VELOTTA EDGER AND TRIMMER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWERS 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed July 6, 1948 swam [2% Patented Dec. 23, 1952 EDGER AND TRIMIMER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWERS Salvatore Velotta, Houston, Tex.

Application July 6, 1948, Serial No. 37,180

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an edger and trimmer attachment for mowers.

An object of the invention is to provide an edger and trimmer which is applicable to mowers particularly lawn mowers of the power driven type.

It i another object of the present invention to provide edging and trimming equipment of the character described which may be readily adjusted to different elevations as wellas to positions at the rear or in front of the lawn mower.

In one form of the invention the cutting blade operates in a vertical plane and is thus particularly adapted for edging lawns and the like while in another embodiment of the invention the cutting blade operates in a horizontal plane and in front of the lawn mower and therefore is specially adapted for reaching and trimmingareas that are inaccessible to the cutter of the lawn mower proper.

In both forms of the invention the edger or trimmer maybe adjusted to an inoperative position and there maintained while the lawn mower is being used to cut the lawn in the usual way. 7

Another feature of the invention embodies a novel-type of clutch which may be manually controlled to drive either the blade of the edger o-r trimmer'or the cutting mechanism of the lawn mower proper, alternatively.

Other objects and advantages will be. apparent fromthe following specification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of a, conventional power type of lawn mower with the motor removed and showing the edger mounted in place.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the motor installed.

Figure 3 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a type of driving pulley employed, showing associated parts in section.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the machine showing the edger in inactive position.

Figure 5 is an end elevation showing the edger in elevated, or inactive position.

Figure 6 is an end elevation showing an embodiment .of the trimmer having a horizontal blade.

Figure '7 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the trimmer mechanism having a horitate in a bracket 4a, which upstands from the.

zontal type blade and showing the driving mech- I anism therefor.

Figure 7A is a fragmentary sectional view thereof.

Figure 8 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 9 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a type of clutch employed shown partly in section.

Figure 10 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the clutch controlling mechanism.

Figure 11 is an end elevation thereof, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary end view, on an enlarged scale, of the clutch mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral l designates the framework of the mower as a whole. This framework is supported in the conventional manner on the carrier wheels 2, 2 and there is a transverse shaft 3 mounted to rotate in the frame and supporting the conventional, spiralled cutter blades 3a.

Mounted in aligned bearings of the upstanding brackets 4 there is a drive shaft 5. These brackets are fixed to and upstand from the framework l.

Fixed on one end of the shaft 5 there is a driving sprocket wheel 6 and aligned therewith and fixed on the shaft 3 there is a driven sprocket wheel 1 and operating over these sprocket wheels and transmitting rotation from the former to the latter there is a driving sprocket chain 8.

The machine is equipped with the guide handles 9, 9 whose forward ends are connected to the ends of the framework I in the usual manner. These handles converge rearwardly, as shown in Figure l, and their rear ends are connected by a bracket [0 and rearwardly of said bracket there are the outwardly turnedgrip members II, II. as best shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Aligned with the shaft 5 and mounted to roframework and which is aligned with the brackets 4, there is a driving shaft 511 which has been provided to drive the edger and trimmer mechanism.

Mounted on the adjacent ends of the shafts 5,

5a there is a pulley [2 which may be alternatively clutched with either of the shafts 5 or 5a so as I able driving mechanism including a driving belt which operates over the pulley I2 to drive th latter.

With the pulley l2 clutched with the shaft 5 the mower proper will be driven in the usual way for cutting grass; but with the pulley I2 clutched with the driving shaft 5a the edger or the trimmer will be driven.

Fixed on the outer end of the shaft Be there is a pulley M nd operating over this pulley and driven thereby there is a driving belt l5.

The edger mechanism disclosed in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, will now be described: The numeral !6;-designates an arcuate supporting arm whose upper end is provided with an integral elongated bearing I? which is rotatable on the shaft 50. and whose free end carries a frame designated generally by the numeral i8 and which is of the inverted U-shaped form.

One arm lBa of this frame is elongated and extends down beneath the surface on which the mower travels, during the edging operation, as indicated in Figure 1, and the other arm. ifib of said frame is relatively short. There is a stationary,.re latively wide blade 19 whose upper end is attached to the arm 18b and whose side margins, at the lower end of the blade converge downwardly as indicated in Figure 2.

The upper end of the blade Iii'is secured in place by means of a bolt 20 whose inner end is secured to the arm 18b and this bolt 20 'extends through an opening [9a in the upper end of the blade 19 and its outer end is threaded to receive a securing nut 2|.

There is a vertically elongated guard plate 22 which is provided with upper and lower vertical slots 23;2 i; The bolt 26 extends through the upper slot 23 and the nut 2| clamps against said upper end of said guard plate.

There is a bolt 25 whose inner end is fitted through a suitable bearing in the arm is and secured in place by means of nut. zfiwhich' is. threaded onto the inner end of said bolt and clamps against the arm i6." This bolt 25 has an enlarged annular rib or flange 27 formed 'integrally therewith and whose inner side has an integral key 27a whichfits into an aligned keyway-in-thearm l8a. Apulley '281is rotatably mounted on the bolt 25: One end of this pulley is in abutting relation with the. flange. 21 and its other end is provided with arcuate outstanding flanges 29, 29 whose ends are spaced apartsto form-oppositely disposed keywa-ys, as

The cutter blade I9 is provided with a bearing to receive said flanges 29 and adjacent the arm [9 there is a rotatable cutterbar 3 l whic-his providedwith a bearing,--midway its ends; to 'recei-ve the adjacent end of the extended-hub 32 of the pulley 28 and said cutter bar 3| has overturned lugs 32 which fit into the notches so that as the pulley 28 is rotated the-cutter-bar ii-will rotate with it. is reducedand externally threaded and extends through. the vertical. slot 24 of theguard Threadedonto said outwardly threaded en-d. of-

the bolt there is a clamp nut 38 which when screwed up clamps. the guard 22 closely-againstan external shoulder on said bolt. 25 so that the guard .22 willbe held securedin place butwillnot clamp againstthe cutter'blade 3 i so as. to prevent it from rotation.

The driving belt i5 operating .over thepulley.

M as hereinabove explained operates alsov over the pulley 28 and transmits rotation to the. latter ulley and to the cutter blade 31 operatively connected therewith.

When the mowing machine isdriven-along the; turf, adjacentthe margin of a concrete sidewaltz or other similar walk in order to guard the cutter; 3! and prevent it fromcoming into contactv with Theadjacent .end of the belt 25- the walk nuts 2! and 33 may be loosened and the guard 22 moved downwardly to its lower position and said nuts then again tightened up; but when the mowing machine is being moved along the sidewalk and the cutter blade 31 is on the side toward the turf said nuts may be loosened and the guard elevated and secured in elevated position.

Mounted on the framework of the mower there is an adjustable bell crankcomprising a transverse stub shaft 34% fixed to one end of which there is an arm 35 having a longitudinal slot 35 and whose other end is upturned forming an arm 3?; The arm 35 may be adjusted, relative to the shaft 3 3, in any conventional manner, and then secured at any selected point of adjustment. There is a control bar, or handle, 38 whose forward end is pivoted to the free end of the arm 31 and whose rear end is provided with a hand knob 39 whereby said handle 38 may be manipulated forwardly or rearwardly and this handle 38 has a series of marginal notches Ali! 'engageable' with a suitable dog ii carried by the handles 9 whereby said handle may be maintained at any. selected.

point of adjustment.

It may be here stated that the arm 35"of the bell crank, may be maintained at any selectedpoint of adjustment; relative to shaft 3 by means of aset screw, as 42.

In the assembly as shown inFigure l to 4 .the

slot 36 of the arm 35 loosely receives a boss @3' on the inner side of the arm [6 *and whose outer. end is enlarged to retain said arm.

Should it be desired to elevate the edger or the trimmer mechanism the control bar 38. may

be moved forwardly, as desired, and this will move the arm 3'! forwardly and downwardly and will swing the arm 35 rearwardly, as shown inFig This may be found desirable when it is ure 4. desired to trim at an elevation above the surface on which the mower is moving. This elevation may bev variedby loosening the set screw 42 .and

varying the relationship of the arm '35 to shaft 34. At times it may be found desirable to use the edger attachment for trimming at an elevation as,.

for example for trimming the sides of hedges and the like. This position of the edger is shown in Figure 5. When maintained in this elevated position an additional cross link, as A l, is employed one end of which has a slot 44a to receive the stud d3 whereby said link 44 is pivotally connected,-at said end, to the supporting arm l6,

near its free end, and the other end of the link 44 is provided with a bolt 45 therethrough and clamped theretoand one end of which extends I through slot Efiand is outwardly threaded to receive a retaining nut it. When used in this manner the bell crank arm 35 is reversed, in position, with respect to its position shown in Figure 2, and the bolt 35 is fitted through the slot- 36 .of

the arm 35 so as to connect the end of the link to said arm 35. By adjusting the handle,.or' control bar, 33 forwardly or rearwardly, the positionedger or the trimmer attachment to a position, directly in front of the lawn mower and this may be done as indicatedin Figure 6. While inthis position the relation of the arms 355,137 will be substantially the same, as that shown in Figure 2, with the free end of the arm 35 extended down:- wardly and with the rear end of the link' M- connected to the arm 35 in the same mannertas.

shown in Figure 5 and as explained in connectlon with the description of said figure and the forward end of the link 44 will be pivotally connected to the forward end of the supporting arm I 6. When' in this position the edger or the trimmer will be in advance of the mower and will therefore reach areas that would otherwise be inaccessible to it.

The type of edger mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, may be thus positioned in front of the lawn mower or the type of trimmer illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 may be connected to the blade 19 in lieu of the guard plate 22 and cutter bar 3|.

The method of such connection and specific construction of the horizontal type of trimmer will now be explained in detail.

There is a frame designated generally by the numeral 4'! and preferably formed integrally. This frame is formed with a vertical slot 48 in its rear side shaped to receive the lower end of the blade I9 and to which blade said frame 41 may be secured by suitable bolts, as 49, 49. The lower portion of the frame is thickened forwardly as best illustrated in Figure 7. Threaded onto the outer, or reduced, end of the bolt 25 there is a bushing 25a which has an outer end flange and mounted on said bushing and connected to the pulley 28 to rotate therewith in a manner similar to the connection of blade 3| thereto there is a bevel pinion 50 which is retained on the bushing by said flange and is in mesh with and drives a bevel pinion 5| which is fixed on the upper end of a vertical shaft 52 which is suitably mounted in a vertical bearing in the forward portion of the frame 41, as indicated in Figure '7.

Detachably secured to the lower end of shaft 52 there is a hub 53 whose lower end carries a cutter blade 54 which rotates in a horizontal plane. In this form the pulley 28 is driven by the belt [5, a in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cutter blade 54 is driven at a high rate of speed and in parallel relationship with the surface of the out and as is obvious otherwise inaccessible places may be reached by it.

Secured to the forward side of the frame 41 and extending laterally therefrom there is a guard 55 whose free end is downwardly turned thus forming a stop, or bumper, to come in contact with stationary objects alongside the cutter blade 54 so as to shield said cutter blade from coming into contact with said objects and becoming broken or injured.

As is obvious by removing the bolts 49 this form of trimmer attachment may be removed and the form of edger shown in Figures 1 and 2 installed.

As hereinabove indicated the driving motor may be clutched with either the shaft 5 to drive the lawn mower proper Or with the shaft 5a to drive the edger or the trimmer mechanism. The clutch operating mechanism and the clutch details are shown in Figure l and Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, and will now be described in detail: The pulley I2 is driven by means of the conventional belt which, in turn, is driven from the motor It so that while either the lawn mower or the edger or the trimmer mechanism are being operated this pulley I 2 is being driven.

The pulley I2 has an elongated hub l2a into which the adjacent ends of the shafts 5, 5a fit and within the pulley [2 around the respective ends of the hub there are the friction type clutch rings 56, 56a which are normally out of contact with the pulley l2 but which may be alternately expanded into clutching relation with said pul- 6 ley. As is shown in Figure 9 both friction rings are contracted and the shafts 5, 5a are consequently idle. The friction rings are approximate- 1y circular but open at one side with their ends spaced apart, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 10 that united to each friction ring, by means of bridges, as 51, there are the annular end plates 58, 58a, having the outwardly extended hubs 58b and 580 which are secured to shafts 5, 5a in any approved manner as by set screws. The bridges 51 are relatively narrow and are diametrically opposite the open ends of the friction rings 55, 55a so that said friction rings can readily expand or contract and on the outer sides of the plates. 58, 58a there are the arcuate levers 59, 59a.

Fitted, rather snugly between the free ends of the friction rings 56, 56a there are the expanders 60, 55a, rectangular in cross section, and having reduced cylindrical shanks 5|, Bla which work through hearings in the plates 58, 58a and to the outer ends of which the arcuate actuating levers 59, 5911, respectively, are secured at one end.

Threaded, radially through the other or free ends of the levers 59, 59a, are the lever actuating bolts 62, 52a which are adjustable, radially, and which may be locked at any point of adjustment by the lock nuts 63, 63a screwed there- Slidable on the hubs 58b and 580 are the clutch actuators 64, 54a whose inner, or facing, ends have the inwardly tapering bearing faces 65, 55a arranged to operate against the inner ends of the corresponding actuating bolts 52, 62.

Upon inward movement of an actuator its tapering face will engage the inner end of the corresponding actuating bolt and swing the free end of the actuating lever 59 or 59a, as the case may be, outwardly and turn the corresponding expander on its axis. The actuated expander will contact with the facing ends of the corresponding friction ring and expand said friction ring into contact with the opposing inside face of the outside flange I21) of pulley 52 so that said friction ring will be forced to rotate with the pulley. This rotation will be imparted to shaft 5 or 5a, as the case may be, through the corresponding end plate and its hub which is secured to the rotated shaft.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figure 9 the adjacent ends of shaft 5. 511 have axial key ways to receive the key 55 to maintain said ends aligned.

In order to operate the clutch there is provided a laterally movable shift bar 6'! mounted on the spaced standards 68, 68 fixed to and upstanding from the frame I. This shift bar may be shifted laterally, by the operator by means of the shift rod 59 whose forward end is pivoted to bar 51 and whose rear end work bearing in the extended end of the so g zT a Depending from shift bar 61 there are the shift P1118. ill, in whose lower ends may be reduced in diameter, as shown in Figure 1, and fitted between the spaced external annular flanges ll 1 I and Ha, Ha on the respective actuators 64 54a and by suitable manipulation of the shift rod 69 the clutch may be shifted to drive either the cutting mechanism of the mower or the cutting mechanism of the edger or trimmer.

As best shown in Figure 11 there are the removable liners, as 12, within the friction rings 55,

56a and between said rings and the corresponding pulleys l2, 12a. The free ends of these liners are I turned outwardly between the ends ofsaid rings "and the corresponding expanders 60 60a;

and around-the'friction rings 5$,-56athere are similar liners l3, 13 which are in the formofl split rings, as indicated in Figure-9.-- Theseliners. are preferably of steel or other durable material and reduce-the wearbetween the parts between which they are fitted and in case-of wear they may be readily removed and replaced.

The drawings and description illustrate anddescribe what is nowconsidercd to-be a preferred-- formof the invention byway of illustration only and not by way of limitation while the' broad principle of the invention will be defined by-the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An attachment for lawnmowers comprising, a supporting-arm mounted, at one-end out be yond the side of the mower to pivot on the mower frame about a transverse axis, means on the free end of said arm, a guard plate disposed outward y of thecutting means, connecting'means carried bythe arm and connected to said plate, spacing means between the arm and plate spacing the plate from said cutting means, and means arranged to move the arm about its pivot to vary the elevationof the cutting means.

2. An attachment for lawn .mowers comprising, a supporting'arm mounted, at one end, to pivot on the mower frame about a transverse axis and spaced outwardly from the side of the mower, grass cutting means on the free end of said arm,

a guard plate disposed outwardly of the cutting means, connecting means carried by the arm and releasably connected to the guard plate, said guard plate being movable vertically with relation" to the cutting means upon release of said connecting means; means arranged to ,move the arm about its pivotto vary the elevation of the cutting means and means on the mower operatively connected with, and adaptedto drive, said cutting means.

3. An'edger attachment for lawn mowers comprising, adriving shaft mounted on the mower,

a supporting arm whose upper end has aloearing.

on said shaft, a frame mounted on the other end of said arm and positioned to revolvein a vertical'plane beyond the side of the mower, a stationary blade on said frame, a vertically disposed guard plate spaced from said frame, releasable means connectingthe plate to the frame, said plate being movable vertically with relation to said frame upon release of said connecting means,-

a rotatable cutter blade mounted between the fixed blade and guard plate, a driving. connection between said shaft and rotatableblade whereby the rotatable blade is driven from the shaft.

4. An edger attachment for. lawn mowers comprising, a driving shaft mounted on the mower, a supporting arm whose upper end hasv a hear-- ing on said shaft, a frame mounted on the other end of said arm and positioned to revolve in a vertical, plane beyond the side of the mower, a stationary blade on said frame, a vertically disposed guard plate spaced from said frame, releasable means connecting the plate to the frame, said plate being adjustable :vertically with'relation to the-frame upon release of s-aidconnecting means, a rotatable cutter blade mounted-be- I grass cutting the mower,

i] tive to wary the -elevation-of-saidarm and its appendants: V

5:- Anattachment-for lawn mowers comprising,

a supportingarm mounted'atoneendytopivot on-the mower -frame about a transverse axis, grass-cutting means-on the free endof said armand out beyond one side of the mower, a guard plate disposed outwardly of saidcuttin'g means,

connecting means carried-byzthe arm and con-- nectedto said guard plate, spacing means-between'th'e arm and the'plateand spacing the mate from-said cutting means and means arranged to move the arm about its pivot tomove said cuttingmeans to-diiferent elevations.

6: An a'ttachment foriawn mowers comprising,

a supporting arm mounted; at one end-to pivot on the mower frame about a transverse axis,

grass' cutting means onthe-free end of said armand out beyond one side" of the mower,- a guard plate disposedoutwardly of' said cutting means,- connecting means carried by the arm and con-- nected to" said guard plate, spacing means between, thearmendthe plate and spacing the plate from said cutting means and-meansarranged: to move the arm about its pivot to .ad-

justsaid-cutting means vertically, and additional meansato hold the cutting means forwardly of" the mower or in'elevated position.

7. An attachment for-lawn mowers comprising, atsupporting arm mounted, at one end,- topivot:on. the mower. frameabouta transverse axis, .grassycuttingmeans on the-free end'of said arm 'and out beyond one sid of. the mower, a guardi plate disposed outwardly-of said cutting means, connecting means carriedby the arm andconnected to :saidguard plate, spacing means between the. arm and. the plate and spacingthe plate ."from said cutting. means and means -arrangedxtomovethe.arm about its pivot to move said cutting means to difi'erent elevations and means carried by the arm and connected'to said guard" plate, spacing means between the arm andthe plate and spacing the plate from said cutting means andmeans arranged to move the arm about; its pivotto move said cutting means to dilferent elevations, said cutting-means includmg a fixed blade and a rotatable blade and means onxthe mower operatively connected with the rotatable blade for rotating said blade.

9.1 Anattachment for lawn mowers comprising,:a;driven shaft on the mower, a'supporting' armone end'of which has a bearing on the shaft cutting means includin a fixed blade and'a ro; tata'blexbla'deon the other end of said arm and revolvable in. avertical plane beyond the side of shaft and operatively connected with the rotatable blade and eiiective to rotate saidblad'e a guard plate disposed outwardly of said blades: connecting means carried by the arm and connected to-the guard plate, and spacing means between the arm and the plate and-spacing. the plate from said blades. 10. An attachment for lawn m mg, a supporting arm mounted,

pivotxonthe mower frame about a transverse axis,

blade drivingmeans operated by the.

owers .compris-v at "one end, to

cutting means on the free end of said arm and revolvable in a vertical plane beyond the side of the mower, a guard plate disposed outwardly of the cutting means, releasable means connecting the plate to the arm, said plate being adjustable vertically relative to the cutting means upon release of said connecting means said arm being movable to upright position, adjustable means mounted on the mower frame and under the control of an operator and means connecting said arm and said adjustable means to maintain the arm and the cutting means in a selected elevated position.

11. An attachment for lawn mowers comprising, a supporting arm mounted, at one end, to pivot on the mower frame about a transverse axis, cutting means on the free end of said arm and revolvable in a vertical plane beyond the side of the mower, a guard plate disposed outwardly of the cutting means, releasable means connecting the plate to the arm, said plate being adjustable vertically relative to the cutting means upon release of said connecting means said arm being movable to forward position, adjustable means mounted on the mower frame and under the control of an operator and means connecting said arm and said adjustable means to maintain the arm and the cutting means in a selected forward elevated position.

12. An attachment for lawn mowers comprising, a driven shaft on the mower, a supporting arm one end of which has a bearing on the shaft,

1O cutting means including a rotatable blade on the other end of said arm and revolvable in a vertical plane beyond the side of the mower, a guard plate disposed outwardly of the cutting means, releasable means connecting the plate to the arm, said plate being movable relative to the arm upon release of said connecting means, blade driving means on the shaft and means operatively connecting the driving means with the blade and effective to rotate said blade.

SALVATORE VELOTTA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 939,926 Smith Nov. 9, 1909 1,054,320 Slatter Feb. 25, 19 3 1,445,515 Jones et a1. Feb. 13, 1923 1,718,058 Mickulecky June 18, 1929 1,953,186 Mueller Apr. 3, 1934 2,172,786 Bishir Sept. 12, 1939 2,179,837 Wolkofi Nov, 14, 1939 2,410,196 Benthall Oct. 29, 1946 2,486,458 Bender Nov. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 354,311 Great Britain Aug. 4, 1931 498,054 Great Britain Jan. 3, 1939 

